The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, in what you might call the ‘reunion’ portion of their five-game home stand.
Arizona (near the bottom of the Western Conference with 25 points) have former Leafs first rounder Luke Schenn and the recently traded Peter Holland in their lineup.
On Saturday, Toronto will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and ex-leading scorer Phil Kessel and on Monday, Randy Carlyle and goalie Jonathan Bernier return to town with the Anaheim Ducks.
Holland was dealt on Friday to the Coyotes for a conditional 2018 sixth rounder and registered two assists in the first game with his new club; a 4-1 victory in Detroit on Tuesday.
Bob McGill and Darcy Tucker putting in some practice time at @AirCanadaCentre earlier today in preparation for the Centennial Alumni game! pic.twitter.com/OtG68U7nbI
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 15, 2016
Agent Joe Resnick met with Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello in late November in hopes of facilitating a trade that would allow the 25-year-old forward to get more consistent playing time, as Holland was a healthy scratch on most nights after Ben Smith was claimed off waivers from Colorado.
Resnick is also the agent for defenseman Frank Corrado, who was scratched for most of the first half of last season and has played only once through 28 games this year.
The 23-year-old defenseman has been mostly silent about his lack of playing time, but Corrado finally elaborated on his situation on Thursday.
“It’s frustrating now, when you don’t get to play for a month and a half, and you’ve played in one game all year, it takes its toll on you mentally.… Corrado said to The Athletic’s David Alter. “It’s not that the novelty has worn off; it’s just that it’s time to play. It’s time to have a career. I feel like the more I’m not playing, that’s food off my table. That’s kind of the way I see it right now.…
Lamoriello claimed Corrado off of waivers from the Vancouver Canucks in October 2015 and there have been indications that head coach Mike Babcock was not on board with adding a player right after the club had completed training camp.
I've spoken a lot with Frankie Corrado. Can say categorically his No. 1 priority is to play -- preferably with #leafs, but if not elsewhere.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 15, 2016
The Leafs GM has not opted to risk sending the defenseman to the AHL, as he would have to go through waivers to play for the Marlies, but Babcock controls who is in the game day lineup and refuses to play him, in spite of the club’s defense being less than stellar.
“I talked to Lou and he’s been supportive with me. He told me he likes me, and he wants me here.… Corrado said. “It does make me feel better about the situation, but at the end of the day, the coach is the one who makes the lineup and if the coach doesn’t like you, then you’re not going to play. And that’s where I’m at right now.…
The situation is unfortunate for Corrado, who is gathering dust on the shelf with the Leafs and with little hope of getting into the lineup unless there are a string of injuries on the blueline. Babcock has been rotating Martin Marincin and Connor Carrick based on their performance and the only injuries thus far have been a brief absence of veteran Matt Hunwick and Marincin's lower body injury suffered in Boston last Saturday.
Publicly expressing his plight may shake things loose and get the Leafs to find a home for Corrado after the holiday trade freeze is lifted, but it is possible that it will have no effect on his situation at all.
Former Olympian Mike Smith will get the start for Arizona, while Frederik Andersen will be in goal for Toronto.
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Listen to my interview with former Toronto assistant GM Bill Watters, as we discuss the current state of the Leafs, the NHL going to the Olympics and the Florida Panthers situation.
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